It's Been A Year

Yes, I know...time has just raced by.  You can't believe it has been a year already either.  Neither can we.  We honestly, have no new news to report to you.  And as they say, "No news is good news."

So, we continue to rejoice again and again in God's amazing provision for all 13 people who gave away an organ (my dad included) and for all 13 who received one (my mom included).  It's amazing to see God's handiwork.  It's amazing to see prayers answered.  It's amazing to have my parents...together...and healthy.

A friend of mine told me the other day, "I try to say, 'Thank you, Lord,' each week.  For each time I said, 'Lord, please...' I want to remember to thank Him."  Such a great word.  I have taken on that same attitude.  I try to thank Him at least once a week as I am truly humbled by His goodness...to us.

Thank you for journeying with us, beloved.  Thank you for letting us share with you how good He has been to us.
Thank you, Lord, for your sweet care over my parents.
Thank you, church, for lifting us up in prayer and for serving us.
Thank you, friends, for humbly walking with us.
Thank you, prayer warriors, for humbly serving us.
Thank you, everyone, for loving us.

Feel free to click "Home" above and meander about the site.  He has called us to remember.  It is good.

Humbled,
Rejoicing,
Melissa Culver

Six Month Anniversary

I can't believe it myself, but today is the six month anniversary of the whole kidney thing. Yes!  Six months ago we were all here:

And we lived through all of this:

Kim and Frank are doing great!  Recovery has been outstanding.  Kim has absolutely amazed all of the medical staff she works with.  She has progressed along each stage of recovery with flying colors. Just beautifully (Thank you, LORD!).  Frank's recovery is going well.  His health is good.  No news to report there.

Thank you, friends, for caring so much along the way.  Your love, care, and generosity have been such a rich and beautiful blessing to our family.  Thank you so much.

Because of His great love,
Melissa Culver

Kim Met Her Donor

Yesterday Kim and Frank met Kim's donor.  They met Maria at The Cheesecake Factory and had a lovely dinner.

Kim and Frank are still out of town, so I don't have details of their spectacular time together, but I'm sure I'll get plenty here soon.

Rejoicing at the spectacular work He does,
Melissa Culver

Heading Home

Kim was released from the hospital.  Frank and Kim are in route home as I type.  They are grateful for your prayers, love, and kindness.  Thank you, as always, for serving them/us in this season.

Because of His great, great love,
Melissa Culver

Hallelujah!

All is well, friends.  Thank you, LORD.

Kim's angiogram was successful.  The doctors were unable to locate any blockage in the heart.  Certainly there was blockage at one point (chest pain and increased enzymes).  The doctors were speculating that blockage could have occurred in a small pathway in the heart.  And they are thinking that said blockage dissolved on its own.  No action to aid the heart was necessary.  No stent was put in.

At this point Kim will be on two medications to aid in keeping her pulse within range, previously it had been elevated.  And Plavix will be added to her meds as well.  These two should help keep future clots from forming.

 ⁶ Praise be to the LORD,
   for he has heard my cry for mercy.
⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield;
   my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
   and with my song I praise him.

 ⁸ The LORD is the strength of his people,
   a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Psalm 28:6-8

Rejoicing in His excellent provision,
Melissa Culver

Saint Agnes Medical Center

Things are well.  Kim is fine.  She's resting comfortably at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, CA.  She is requesting NO phone calls at this time, please.

Kim has been in the hospital since Friday (January 14, 2011).

On Thursday she went to the ER in Merced in light of some chest pain.  She was given a nitroglycerin tablet to alleviate the discomfort from the chest pain--and prevent anything that could potentially be in the works.  The chest pain subsided.  Two blood draws were taken.  As the results were analyzed it was clear that something had occurred in the heart muscle.  (Enzymes are secreted when tissues are denied oxygen.  The blood vessels collapse and enzymes are present in the blood.)  These numbers continued to increase over several hours.  After being monitored for several hours she was later released under the condition that she would see her cardiologist the very next day.  She agreed.

On Friday she went directly to her cardiologist.  He looked at the numbers and admitted her to the hospital.  It was too late in the day to order an angiogram.  The UC Davis transplant team was contacted.  The on-call doctors chatted with them to make sure that the course of action they were taking was acceptable in light of her recent organ surgery.  The medical staff is all on the same page.  Everything is progressing smoothly.

What now?
Kim is resting delightfully the hospital.  Here are some pictures of her stay:

Kim enjoyed playing cards with Melissa.  It helped to pass the time.

This is seriously the menu she has in her room.

It's six pages long.  Yes, six pages! 
Just call in your order and food service brings it to you.

I joked with Kim that she was on clearance.  The nursing staff
uses UPC scanners to log patient medications and activity.

They are able to verify with certainty that they have accessed the
correct file on the computer system.  I found that to be quite fascinating--and comical!

What next?  On Monday Kim is having an angiogram.  They will examine her heart to locate the blockage.  After the blockage has been located they will then repair the blockage as needed--possibly a stent.  The medical staff has predicted that she'll get out of the hospital by Tuesday.  We'll see how things go on Monday and that should give us a clearer picture on when she is released.

Why so late in posting this?  Kim wanted to keep things under the radar on this one.  She didn't want anyone to be alarmed.  She wanted for life to be bumping along like "normal."  She doesn't want people to be concerned about her more than is necessary.  Secondly, she needed to rest.  Her phone has been quite silent and it has been excellent for her.  She has been able to lay low and rest.  Her heart needed that.

Beloved, thank you for your continued love and support for our family.  You are very dear and precious to us.  Thank you so much.

 ¹ Praise the LORD.

   Praise the LORD, you his servants;
   praise the name of the LORD.
² Let the name of the LORD be praised,
   both now and forevermore.
³ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
   the name of the LORD is to be praised. 

Psalm 113:1-3 

Praying fervently for His plans,
Melissa Culver

Kim Contacted her Donor

Kim in her own words:

"I just talked to my donor for over the past hour - what a delightful lady.  It was great to learn about her and her family.  She is also a Christian and had her Santa Fe California church, school, and friends praying too.  She had my name and they were praying for me by name.  God is so good.  With all the prayers going up there is no doubt we stormed heaven with our petitions.  He is faithful to answer."

So, to Maria Gutierrez we say: "THANK YOU!  You have forever changed our lives and we are humbly grateful."

Beloved, thank the LORD for this sweet, sweet sister in Christ who willingly gave of herself to Kim.  Praise Him for her excellent and beautiful recovery.  She was out of the hospital the day after she donated her kidney.  Her recovery just amazes me.  Our Father is so good!

Because He lives,
Melissa Culver

Success!

Today's procedure was a success.  The procedure was quick, painless, and excellent.  Kim feels fantastic.  Thank you, LORD.

And, yet, I'd kerflop if I failed to mention that we waited for nearly 5 hours for Kim's procedure to happen.  We arrived at the hospital around 12:30.  She was taken back to pre-op around 2:30.  She was wheeled back for her procedure around 5:07.  Fifteen minutes later she was done.  Whooooo!

While in the Family Waiting Area for several hours we had a beautiful opportunity to chat with a family who was there for the beginning of the very journey we just completed.  Their mom was donating a kidney to their dad.  Surgeries were underway.  Busy.  Waiting.  Uncertain.  On edge and coping.  Trying to be strong for each other.  Watching the clock.  Waiting.

It was beautiful to chat with them, to tell them about our journey.  To answer their questions.  To share our tissues with them when they cried.  To rejoice with them at small bits of good news.  To hug them.  To encourage them.

Waiting can be very beautiful.

Encouraged and delighted,
Melissa Culver

Today's Procedure

A few of the previous posts mention how Kim was slated to have her stint removed.  Normal.  Expected.  Part of the original plan.  So, today's the day.  We are leaving Merced at 9:00.  We check into the hospital (in Sacramento) at 12:30.  Her procedure is scheduled for 2:30.  She goes under anesthesia for about an hour and a half for the whole thing to happen.

Please keep us/her in your prayers.  Thank you.

Because of his great, great love,
Melissa Culver